Circuit-breaker.



No. 760,798. PATENTBD MAY 24, 1904.

A. G. MILLER.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Witnesses L lnven'boh gmzdz Andrew C.M|'l|er- THE NORRvS FEPERS coy, moxoluwou'msnmul'on, o. c.

UNITED STATES.

Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW C. MILLER, OF CORONA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK CHASE, OF CORONA, CALIFORNIA.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,798, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed my 19, 1902 Serial No. 108,097. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at C- rona, in the county of Riverside and State of California, have invented a newand useful Circuit-Breaker, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device which may be connected to a machine for breaking an electric circuit to which the machine is connected, and has for its object to produce adevice which may be connected to an electric machine and which will operate automatically when the current ceases to flow and the machine stops to break the circuit in which the machine is connected, thus preventing damage to the machine which might occur from the sudden turning on of the current.

Another object is to provide a circuitbreaker which may operate to break the circuit and stop the machine should themachine run at less than a predetermined desired speed.

Another object is to provide a device which operates mechanically and which does not del pend upon the action of magnets or springs, such as are commonly employed in circuitbreakers.

Another object is to produce a circuitbreaker which will give a quick break at the terminals.

A further object is to provide a manuallydetachable connection between the means for breaking the circuit and one of the terminals thereof, so that the circuit may at any time be closed or broken without interfering with the automatic circuit-breaking means.

Other objects, such as simplicity of construction and effectiveness in operation, are attained, which will be set forth in the following description.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a base, 2 is a fixed contact, and 3 is a movable contact.

A is an L-shaped bar pivoted at 5 to the base 1. The bar 4 carries a weight 6, which may be adjustably attached thereto.

7 is a flexible connection between the bar A and the movable contact 3. The flexible connection 7 may have a ring 8 normally engaging the upper portion of the movable contact 3.

9 is a detent pivoted at 10 and normally in engagement with the upper end of the bar 4.

A centrifugal device comprising a rotatable frame 11, which carries pivoted arms 12, which may be provided with adjustable weights 12, is mounted on a bracket 13. The bracket 13 may be connected to the frame 1. The weighted arms 12 are connected by links 14: to a swivel 14: on the rod 15. One end of the rod 15 is provided with a slot 16. A pin 17 passes through the slot 16 and a slot 18 in the detent, thus affording a flexible connection between the rod 15 and the detent 9. 19 is a pulley over which a belt 20 may pass to operate the centrifugal device.

21 represents an electric machine to which the device may be connected. The circuitbreaker may be connected in circuit with the machine 21, and the belt 20 may be driven by the machine.

22 is an arm supporting a buffer 23, against which the bar 4 may strike in falling and against which the bar may rest when in one position.

The operation of the device is such that when the machine 21 is stopped the circuit passing therethrough is broken at the contacts 2 and 3. The movable contact 3 is normally in the position shown in full lines, so that the circuit is normally unbroken. When the centrifugal device rotates at a constant speed, the rod 15 is held stationary, thus allowing the detent 9 to hold the bar 4 from falling. When the speed of the machine 21 varies, the rod 15 is shifted, the slotted portion 16 permitting the rod 15 to shift somewhat without acting upon the pin 17. When the machine 21 stops rotating, or when the speed of the machine falls below a predetermined desired point, the weighted arms-12 of the centrifugal device drop to the position shown in dotted lines, thus shifting the rod 15 and drawing up the detent 9 to the position indicated in dotted lines, releasing the bar A and allowing the same to fall into the position shown in dotted lines, or by suitably adjusting the weights 12 the centrifugal device may operate to break the circuit when the speed of the machine varies from a certain point. The connection 7 is provided with sufiicient slack to allow the bar 4: to swing a considerable distance and acquire a velocity suflicient to impart a sudden movement to the movable contact 3, thus insuring a quick break at the terminals and avoiding arcing. The contact 3 is engaged by the ring 8 until the contact has moved sufiiciently far to allow the ring 8 to disengage itself. \V hen the machine 21 is again started, the parts may be returnedto their normal positions, as indicated in full lines. The contact 3 may be opened at any time Without interfering with the other parts of the device.

24 is a call-bell, which may be connected by Wires 25 and 26 to contacts 27 and 28, respectively. hen the bar 4: falls, it moves the contact 28 against the contact 27 and closes the circuit, causing the bell 24: to ring.

WVhen several motors and circuit-breakers are used, bells may be provided for each motor and circuit-breaker and all of the bells may be placed in one localityfor instance, in the room of the attendantso that if a motor stops for any causesuch, for instance, as the burning out of a fuse the attendant can, tell at a glance which motor is stopped and is thus enabled to go directly to the particular motor which requires his attention.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particular form of centrifugal device shown, and it is obvious that many variations and changes may be made in the construction herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A circuit-breaker comprisinga fixed contact, a movable contact, a vertical bar pivoted at its lower end out of balance, a normally slack connection between said bar and said movable contact, means for normally p reventing said bar from drawing said connection taut, means for automatically releasing said bar, a bell, a circuit, and a switch therefor, said switch lying in the path of movement of said bar.

2. A circuit-breaker comprising a fixed contact, a movable contact, a bar pivoted at its lower end out of balance, a connection nor- 5 mally slack between said bar and said movable contaet, a detent normally holding said bar from swinging, a device for automatically moving said detent to release the bar, a bell, a circuit, and a switch therefor, said switch lying in the path of movement of said bar.

I In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, at Elsinore, California, this 6th day of May, 1902.

ANDREW c. MILLER.

Witnesses: I

HENRY N. FAREY, S. A. STEWART. 

